Reading this makes me understand why I like working out so much. Yes the idea of it isn't as appealing BUT, when you get into the motions you feel great.

This makes total sense since he is not going to do hard labor. If his parents aren't necessarily ecstatic about him being book smart, a school with a title will have them boasting about him!

YES!! You have more power than you know! Do what makes you happy no matter if it is against societal normalities that are pressed upon you!!

The idea of the three F's is interesting.To me, machismo does not fit into any of these categories yet, this is the kind of man most women end up with.

a man who exhibits traits or qualities typically associated with women, often in a way that is considered unmanly or feminine

Racism is never the face of the "problem" of a darker skin tone as a Mexican. It was always told to me as a "preference". This is incredibly stupid and it is about racism even though Mexican mothers, aunts, and grandmothers get furious when you bring this to light.

What people say to you about your complexion makes you feel ugly like the narrator said. I never had or have a problem with my complexion but it always seems like one of my relatives do. And to that? I say F you.

This reminds me of going to any of my bosses houses. It seems like every time I get a new boss and I go over its the same play over and over again. Hispanics working for white people. I always feel icky after I leave. I understand it is a job but I can't help but notice.

While I understand money is money, their mother has a great point and she doesn't need to wear a maid uniform to clean.

It's so interestning that I have had similar experiences. I always want to tan to get a little more color while my grandmother is always telling me to stay out of the sun to keep my porcelain doll like complexion.

The differences between siblings is so interesting! My brother and I are mixed. My mother is Mexican and my father is Italian. I have straight hair and lighter complected skin (I burn and peel) while my brother has curly hair, freckles, and can hold a tan.

as in JCPenney's?

This is the perfect example of how your parents life (Spanish speaking) can assist in your new life being bilingual.

Honestly? Sounds like she ate everyone up when it came to fashion in the fields!

No one is above any job. I think back to all of the stereotypes and wonder why more people pick fruit?

I can understand putting up with the Mimi act for a small while but not at the expense of others. I hope they go and make up the money they have be unconsciously taking from their siblings to better themselves.

I think that this is because their mom was in some way happy with how they turned out. They had a goal in mind and were accomplishing it, as odd as it may be. People were buying the act and who cares if it makes you happy?

I can only assume this was their attempt in fitting in, in an anglo dominated scene. Just like everyone else, they want to fit in.

I'm not sure if it was expensive at the time but this is $70-$85

They are changing all of the visual identifiers of their culture. Not necessarily bad but for the sake of the story I can only assume they will regret it or their relatives will think badly of it.

Being able to see the times change in one excerpt is amazing! I hope that she feels healed through her daughter.

My grandmother does the same thing! It always makes it worse because my brother and I have no idea what she's saying so she has to repeat herself with even more anger in English.

Immigrating is a dream people think about. The problem is that the dream doesn't include what happens after you've made your dreams into reality. Sacrifices that family made for you to get here are often thrown around like daggers when you pursue an American job when your parents are immigrants. What is the point talking about your hardships when nothing will ever live up to the hardships they faced when moving.

While this is hard to do and can be looked down upon in the heat of the moment, this is the kind of life your parents immigrated for. This is the life they wanted for you before even though that pill is hard to swallow now.

I can understand this from a readers perspective. I read anywhere from 75 to over 100 books a year. With so many new books coming out, I can't be caught up on the grammar or punctation. I understand that this is significant for this story but consumers expect the best of the best making it hard to make everyone happy. She translated it herself, took a leap and this is where it landed her. I'm happy that she got noticed but you gotta keep rolling with the punches. Keep your head up girl! Just adjust for the next time :)

You don't speak Spanish very well, do you?

The same is asked of me when I go to any sort of book conventions. I understand that the hosts want to make sure I am pointed to the right direction but every time I answer English only, part of me feels bad that I don't know any Spanish.

This concept is always so interesting to me. My grandmother never taught my mom Spanish and my mom never taught me Spanish. Now, when applying for jobs they praise those who are bilingual and they get paid more (as they should). Times have changed and hopefully will continue to grow in this direction.

whats the point in working your life away in prison if you can never get anything out of it for your future? Sure he can work for a quarter of pay someone not in prison gets for 10times more work but people don't hire without a high school education or GED. You cannot better yourself when you are set up to fail.

Being 20 years old just learning how to read and write hinders life. If this man was in jail multiple times in his life, there is no way he was ever able to sign any paperwork and there is also a goof probability that if he had asked for aid in doing so, it more than likely not given to him.

Cover here:

This is the link if anyone was interested: Description

Here in solitude her rebellion thrives.

In solitude she thrives.

These are the customs that betray. The Indian woman in me is the shadow: La Chingada, Tlazolteotl, Coatlicue. They are the ones we hear lamenting their lost daughters.

These Indian fleshes, which we Mexicans despise, just as we despise and condemn our mother, Malinali. We condemn ourselves. This defeated race, a bodily enemy.

When I'm on my Mexican side of the family I am "too white" on the white side of my family I am "too Mexican". I don't fit in either so I choose my own path, set my own rules, take up space no matter where I am. With cultures mixing this will be more of the norm.

not having to answer to anyone

reject

Why would you stick to your culture when it does not represent you? Just because you were born into a space does not mean you have to adhere to it.

The lie is that the Shadow-Beast is bad. This is believed because people are told what to think by others. What if you looked at it from a different perspective? Why is it really bad? Maybe you realize you and the beast are more alike than you thought. Who's really in the wrong?

Some people live in denial. They are so scared of being unaccepted that they live their whole life miserable worrying about how others feel about them.

Whichever route you choose someone isn't going to agree. Keep your head up and continue on with your choice.

Translate: The woman has to do what the man tells her.

Translate: I'm not going to let some bastard abuse my children.

Translate: Men only want one thing

The superhuman- god in us, is part of something that is a belief just like religion is. One belief to go against the other seems silly. Why believe at all if none of these things physically exist?

Doing anything for yourself when it comes to growth in a hispanic household is deemed selfish and unacceptable until the point of success. Then family is all on board. Taking a leap to better yourself instead of focusing on doing what your family says on a day to day basis is looked down upon.

I am confused... I thought that the Joaquín we were talking about is the bandit but no one can live for five hundred years. I understand the sorrow, hurt, and longing of the text but I don't understand the perspective I should be reading it in. Is it a single person or are they speaking in the sense of many?

The word "machismo" has always been used in an unpleasant way as society develops but in this instance, it is used as something good. He is a man with pride for his country, family, and ancestors. Not machismo in a toxic way like it is used today.

Killing to stay alive versus the Anglos killing to conquer...

Joaquín Murrieta: A Mexican bandit known for his freedom fighting ethnic discrimination.

As I read this, I think it is coming from a place of encouragement of themselves not as a downplay on anyone else.

Zapotec: Indigenous peoples of Mexico who live in Oaxaca. The Zapotec people developed advancements to Mesoamerica like a writing system and calendar which was before the Aztecs and Mayans.

Translation: "May the gachupines die, and long live the Virgin of Guadalupe"

Name of the last Aztec ruler. Meaning descending eagle or the one who swoops down like one.

I find it interesting that he decided to capitalize "Progress" when the text expresses their dislike of this whole idea. The respect of something that has arguably shattered their life is crazy to me.

After reading the whole poem, I was wondering why the name Joaquín, but after some light research it makes sense.

Joaquín: established by God

I am not religious myself, but my family is heavily religious and from my experience it is because our ancestors were religious. I am making a stereotypical assumption that Joaquín is a believer as a majority of Chicanos